In the wake of the SEC's cyber security examinations and a subsequent report, three causes for celebration and three serious action items have emerged from the SEC's recent cyber security examinations. These illustrate where the financial services industry should focus its information security efforts.

Investment in big data is increasing, but it means squat if there's no talent to program the tools, analyze the results, and create business value. Universities are responding by creating programs to train a generation of data scientists.

Every quarter, investment bank Berkery Noyes compiles an analysis fintech M&A trends. Berkery's managing director John Guzzo shares his insights on trends to look out for in the fintech market next year.

Bitcoin presents a new type of nontraditional, highly technical, experimental, and global digital instrument to our already complex world. That fact should not conjure fear. It should engender excitement.